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Atchison County delays decision on 2016 John Deere backhoe repair after $37,000 estimate
Summary
Commissioners asked staff to gather more cost comparisons and a second estimate after a Road & Bridge backhoe suffered a hydraulic pump failure and a vendor estimate totaled about $37,002.52; no formal action was taken.
Atchison County commissioners on Oct. 14 discussed whether to repair a 2016 John Deere 310SL backhoe after staff reported the machine’s main hydraulic pump had failed and a parts-and-labor estimate from Murphy Tractor & Equipment totaled roughly $37,002.52. Commissioners did not authorize the repair and asked staff to collect more information, including a second repair estimate and a used-equipment comparison.
Commissioner Quinn and Commissioner Knoll led the discussion after Road and Bridge staff described how a mechanic inspected the machine, ran it while elevated and determined the main hydraulic pump had failed. County staff noted that when such pumps fail they can generate metal shavings that circulate through the hydraulic system, increasing repair complexity and cost. Road and Bridge staff said routine maintenance follows the manufacturer schedule and that the department performs routine servicing in-house.
The board weighed that the repair estimate is comparable to prices for used machines. Staff reported that comparable used John Deere backhoes with lower hours were being advertised for about $40,000, and that the county’s older machine had roughly 10,000 hours. Commissioners said they wanted a clearer apples-to-apples comparison that reflects any specialized equipment on the county machine (foam-filled front tires, a fabricated rack and a manufacturer thumb that folds back), plus the hours and warranty status on a newer backhoe the county owns.
Commissioners asked staff to obtain a second estimate and additional details on resale or trade-in value, and to report how many hours are on the county’s newer backhoe. No motion was made and no purchase order or repair authorization occurred during the meeting. The board noted the county currently has a newer backhoe in service that provides redundancy while the issue is evaluated.
The discussion closed with a request that staff, including the Road and Bridge superintendent, return with information on: a second repair estimate, the hours and warranty status of the newer machine, resale value or trade-in options for the 2016 unit, and whether any local vendors other than Murphy Tractor & Equipment can provide estimates.
